Continuing series on the gospel of the kingdom. Summary of our role as servants with delegated authority to fulfill the redemptive mission of God. Conditions that exist contrary to the will of God.

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An exporation of the mission of the Lord and the implications for his followers.

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Two kinds of servanthood in the world and the church: Gift-based servanthood and need-based servanthood.

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God gives His servants resources and responsibility. His reward is authority.

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A Pound of Kingdom Stuff
January 11, 2009

I.    The returning King (Luke 19.12-27).
A.    This is a story with historical precedent.
1.    Archelaus (a wicked ruler) was crowned king by Caesar.
a)    This occurred during Jesus’ infancy (Luke
b)    Did Satan go to Eden to receive a crown?
2.    The story has elements of comparison and contrast.
B.    Read the story.
C.    Jesus’ mission has parallels.
1.    Jesus is going to heaven to receive a crown.
2.    Will return in triumph as King.
3.    There will be those that reject his rule.
II.    The servants in the story are parallel to Jesus’ followers (called out).
A.    The ten servants are each given a “mina.”
1.    Some translations call it “a pound.”
a)    Of Gold or silver or something else.
b)    They received a pound of “kingdom stuff.”
2.    It is undetermined amount, possibly four months wages.
B.    The servants are to do business with kingdom resources.
1.    There is an expectation of increased value.
2.    He gave them money to steward.
a)    The money wasn’t theirs it was kingdom money.
b)    They were given responsibility.
3.    The pay-off wasn’t “in kind.” On return he didn’t give money.
4.    The payoff was “authority.”
a)    Responsibility is the stewardship of things.
b)    Authority is the stewardship of people.
C.    There will be those who fail.
1.    Those who wait without purpose are not rewarded or recognized.
a)    Are they also the unmentioned seven?
b)    The gospel of the kingdom means active waiting, not passive.
2.    Those that reject the Lord.
a)    Still refuse to be subjects.
b)    They will, likewise, be rejected.
D.    Repentance.
1.    The unbeliever repents of devotion to the world.
a)    The descendents of the last Adam not born to righteousness.
b)    These must first reject the king of darkness.
c)    Swear devotion to the Creator.
2.    Baptism is the statement of that repentance.
3.    The believer embraces the Creator.
a)    Repents of sin with the knowledge Christ secured forgiveness.
b)    Must then embrace obedience.
III.    Of pounds and servants. Parable of the coming Kingdom.
A.    There is the mention of a four months period in prophetic.
1.    Four months until the harvest.
2.    Four months between the Passover and Trumpets.
B.    There are seven servants and seven churches that must give an account.
IV.    What is our “pound of kingdom stuff”?
A.    Jesus left the Spirit and the spiritual gifts for us to use.
1.    The Spirit does not belong to us.
2.    We are to be responsible in the use of the gifts.
a)    We are charged to “occupy” until He comes.
b)    We ought not be guilty of doing nothing with our pound.
3.    For a “manifest” of the gifts, go to …
a)    Romans 12.
b)    1 Corinthian 12.13-14.
c)    Ephesians 4.
B.    The purpose of the pound.
1.    It is a kingdom resource.
2.    It becomes a tool (or a weapon).
3.    It is applied to a task.
a)    It is to bind (or build up).
b)    Or to loose (release).
4.    It is to bring increase.
C.    What is the task?
1.    The task may be in the world.
a)    We are to love the world (as Christ loved the world).
b)    The increase is to the kingdom, namely people.
c)    People are behind the gates of hell (Matthew 16).
2.    The task may be in the church.
a)    Build up the church (edify).
b)    The increase is to multiply and release gifts.
(1)    Paul in Romans 1.11.
(2)    1 Corinthians 14.26.
c)    The increase is to bring the body to maturity.

The beginning of a new year with all the anticipation it brings! This message is the next installment of a series on the Gospel of the Kingdom. Past weeks have discussed Jesus as the Seed of Promise, the Last Adam and life-giving Spirit.

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Gospel of the Kingdom:
Jesus, the Coming King

I.    Review.
A.    The Kingdom is coming.
1.    Matthew 16.
a)    The calling out of a new people.
b)    The announcement of the revolution against darkness.
2.    Matthew 17.
a)    The source of kingdom power revealed.
b)    The expansion of the kingdom begun.
3.    Matthew 18.
a)    The subjects in the kingdom described.
b)    Kingdom authority to be manifested among them.
B.    The King has come. The birth of Christ.
1.    He is the seed of promise.
a)    Fulfillment of the Genesis promise.
b)    Tasked to destroy the works of the Devil (1 John 3.8).
2.    He is the Life-giving Spirit.
a)    The last Adam.
b)    The progenitor of a new race.
3.    He is the coming King.
II.    The restoration of the throne of God.
A.    The Ruler of this world is a pretender to the throne.
1.    Satan has a kingdom (Luke 11.18).
2.    Domain of darkness (Colossians 1.13).
3.    It is terminal (John 12.31).
B.    The missing element in the Kingdom of God (1 Samuel 8.7).
1.    One of those times God gives what He knows isn’t best.
2.    The missing element: Subjects; obedient followers of the King.
3.    Apparently, God had been fine with the system of the Judges.
C.    The Kings of Israel became a placeholder for the righteous King.
1.    The monarchy wasn’t God’s first plan.
2.    David was established as the “type” of the King.
3.    The Kings became “stewards.” (Lord of the Rings).
III.    A Kingdom is unfolding in our midst.
A.    Jesus comes to take his place as the heir to the throne.
1.    The rightful heir to the throne (Luke 1.32).
2.    A liberator; savior (Luke 2.11) to depose illegitimate government.
B.    Inauguration- The coming king identified.
1.    Baptism.
2.    Inaugural address (Luke 4.18) speaks of liberation (the savior).
a)    Release the captives.
b)    Set free the oppressed
C.    Delegation- Jesus begins the calling out of the church.
1.    The Kingdom commissioning of the disciples.
2.    The gathering of the restored race.

IV.    So, what is He waiting for?
A.    The timing of the kingdom.
1.    Not just any time will do.
a)    Luke 7.6-8. His brothers encourage him to be recognized.
b)    Satan tempts Jesus to skip the cross.
2.    The people were eager for a new leader.
a)    John 6. They wanted to force him to the throne.
b)    In Luke 19 they were eager for the kingdom of heaven.
c)    At the triumphal entry that was the reason for the palms.
B.    Numerous references to active waiting.
1.    The ten virgins (Matthew 25).
2.    The servants with the talents (Matthew 25).
3.    Servants diligently working while waiting (Luke   12).
4.    The bride waiting for the bridegroom’s return (John 14).
C.    The returning King (Luke 19.12-27).
1.    This is a story with historical precedent.
a)    Archelaus (a wicked ruler) was crowned king by Caesar.

The next in the series on the Gospel of the Kingdom. This podcast includes the last installment of readings from The Birth, by Gene Edwards—the story of Simeon and Anna.

The message discusses Jesus as the “last Adam” and the “life-giving Spirit.”

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